See China

He Yi Zhuang Cheng-Concert of Symphonic Music of SHCM was held in Beijing Music Hall on January 10.Artists and students from Shanghai Conservatory of Music together with Shanghai Opera House Orchestra presented a wonderful concert for Beijing audience.

With the publication of his quasi-biographical book to A Good Life is Not Necessarily Expensive (好的生活没那么贵), Qiao Xiaodao’s stories are inspiring more than those who love his music.

Independent folk singer Shao Yibei and her music story

Like all his poetic lyrics, from the above lines written by Zhong Lifeng(钟立风), a famous Chinese balladeer, we can feel the genuineness, melancholy and talent of this young artist.

Although introduced to China in the early 20th century amid foreign occupation, the western opera was still new to the Chinese audience, but its genre and way of expression has been modified and localized by daunting political maneuvers with the years.

Zou Lan, an economist specializing in regional development and West China poverty issues, recalls his lifelong addiction to the diversified and dynamic music of West China. Exclusively on See China in 5 parts, with links to online mp3.

In a recent interview of Opera News, DAVID HSIEH talked with two Chinese artists who established their names in the world opera scene — bass Hao Jiang Tian (田浩江, literally meaning big river) and bass-baritone Shenyang (沈洋, somehow also literally meaning big ocean, and the English spelling of two names are not even coherent, with the former being “westernized” and the latter in natural Chinese order).

Over the past two weekends, Beijing played host to three major music festivals, showing the breadth of the Chinese music scene. Local independent music label Modern Sky put on the Strawberry Music Festival, which has an indie-rock bent featuring Chinese acts and a smattering of international bands. The Midi Festival, organized by Beijing’s Midi School of Music, has a more rock ‘n’ roll vibe, a punk- and metal-heavy lineup, and an eleven-year history. And the smaller Ditan Park Folk Festival was launched just last year by an independent promoter who also owns a guitar shop in Beijing.